00s Movie Review - Signs

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Thriller/ Drama/ Mystery
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2002
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin, Cherry Jones

Description: A family living on a farm finds mysterious crop circles in their fields which suggests something more frightening to come.

Review: When director M. Night Shyamalan found a book about crop circles, he also found the theme for his next film. The fact that there have been crop circles for so long and no one can explain them, it a mysterious, fascinating yet scary phenomenon. Off course there have been plenty of alien films, with them attacking our planet. But “Signs” is different. More than a leg in the crops, shadows, sounds and a video shot with a shaky cam we don’t get to see of the aliens. But that’s exactly what makes “Signs” so scary. Shyamalan manages to give you goosebumps, on the moments you don’t see anything but know something is there.

The cast is great, all of them. “Signs” is one of my favorite films and it always scares me. No matter how many times I see it. It’s movies like this that make Shyamalan a great director. Which he is!

Rating: 5/ 5

 

 

90s Movie Review - Pocahontas

Director: Mike Gabriel, Eric Goldberg
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Drama/ Adventure/ Musical/ Romance
Runtime: 81 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Iren Bedard, Mel Gibson, Christian Bale, Judy Kuhn, Jim Cummings, Billy Connolly, Linda Hunt, John Kassir, Russell Means

Description: An English soldier and the daughter of an Algonquin chief share a romance when English colonists invade seventeenth century Virginia.

Review: “Pocahontas” is loosely based on the life of the young Indian princess Matoaka, the daughter of the chief of the Powhatan, an Indian tribe that lived in what is now called Virginia. Among her tribesmen, Matoaka was known as Pocahontas, which means something like “playful”.
At the beginning of the 17^th century, a British ship made the crossing to the New World with the plan to search for gold on the American mainland. John Smith, a young and enterprising sailor, makes the acquaintance of a young Indian woman who introduces herself as Pocahontas. Her father has promised her to Kocoum, a young warrior of the tribe, but Pocahontas falls in love with John Smith. The two meet each other in secret, but when Kocoum finds out, a fight ensues. John Smith is captured. Will Pocahontas manage to sav John?
The film’s story is based partly on fact and partly on fantasy. In real-life, Pocahontas was only 10 or 11 when she met John Smith. She ended up marrying another British settler, named John Rolfe, a few years later and traveled to Britain with him. Where she eventually died at the age of 20, due to tuberculosis. This is a less magical story, so Disney made it more family-friendly.
I believe “Pocahontas” is one of those underrated and overlooked Disney animations that most people don’t even talk about anymore. Which is a shame, because it’s a beautifully animated film with amazing songs. With “Colors of the Wind” being the absolute showstopper of course. “Pocahontas” has a short runtime, and that little length ensures that the film does not get bored for a moment.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

Oldies Review - Mad Max

Director: George Miller
Genre: Action/ Drama/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 1979
Starring: Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Steve Bisley, Tim Burns, Roger Ward, Lisa Aldenhoven, David Bracks, Bertrand Cadart, David Cameron, Robina Chaffey, Stephen Clark, Mathew Constantine, Jerry Day, Reg Evans.

Description: In a self-destructing world, a vengeful Australian policeman (Mel Gibson) sets out to stop a violent motorcycle gang.

Review: The then unknown Mel Gibson plays Max, an agent of the special unit who, after a fallout, stops criminals and motorcycle gangs. In a spectacular opening scene, the cold-blooded Max mercilessly deals with the ruthless criminal Nightrider and that puts bad blood between im and the motorcycle gang led by the insane Toecutter. Toecutter and his followers seek revenge and soon they open the hunt for Max and his buddies.
When Max’ god friend Goose ends up in the hospital, Max realizes that the police unit is no longer in control and he decides to take a break to sort everything out. But when his wife and son are murdered by Toecutter and his gang, Max is determined to return to the unit and avenge his family. A sensational chase with a fatal outcome in the forbidden area is the result.
Director and screenwriter George Miller created a violent action film set in a post-apocalyptic landscape in Australia. The film contains hardly any dialogue, convincing acting and surprising plot twists, but the explicit images of the wasteland, the bizarre crimes of Toecutter’s gang and the excessive violence appeal to the imagination. And with only a runtime of 93 minutes, “Mad Max” is an great watch with not a dull moment in sight.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Edge of Darkness

Director: Martin Campbell
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Frank Grillo

Description: As homicide detective Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) invstigates the murder of his activist daughter, he uncovers a corporate cover-up and government conspiracy that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence.

Review: Mel Gibson hasn’t been in too many films in the 2010s. “Edge of Darkness” was one of them. The plot isn’t all that original. Gibson plays detective Thomas Craven. He is spending time with his daughter Emma. When she is feeling sick and Thomas is trying to get her to a doctor, someone shoots and kills Emma. Thomas does everything do find the person responsible for this.
Surprisingly enough director Martin Campbell wasn’t surprising and fresh for this thriller, when you come to think that he also directed “Casino Royale”, where he blew new life into the James Bond franchise. It’s a straight-forward thriller which follows the standard path.
They did try hard, because when a story is so standard you have to work harder to keep your audience’s attention. It does have some good fight scenes and car chases, but not enough to save the entire film. And the ending was not all that surprising.
“Edge of Darkness” is by no means a terrible movie, it’s just not original and it’s all been done before. With a bit more guts, this thriller could rise above average.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Ransom

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: Mel Gibson, Renee Russo, Gary Sinise, Lili Taylor, Liev Schreiber, Evan Handler, Donnie Wahlberg, Delroy Lindo, Brawley Nolte, José Zuniga, Paul Guilfoyle

Description: When a multimillionaire man's (mel Gibson) son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then turns the tables on the kidnappers when he uses the ransom money as a reward for the capture of the kidnappers.

Review: Two million dollars, in unmarked bills. That’s the kidnapper’s demand when they take Tom and Kate Mullen’s son Sean. Else, Sean won’t return alive. Mullen decides to make the trade, but when it goes wrong he no longer trusts them. And he takes matters in his own hands.
Instead of giving them the two million, he puts a price on the kidnapper’s head and will give the money to the one delivering Mullen the person responsible.
Because the identity if the kidnappers and its leader is revealed within the first hour, you think it will loose tension. It doesn’t. There is a cat and mouse game going on and Mullen not settling for a simple trade is adding to that tension.
Mel Gibson and Gary Sinise are the stars here, they are really strong in their roles. “Ransom” is a real solid thriller, with a great 90s vibe.

Rating: 3, 5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Bird on a Wire

Director: John Badham
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Adventure
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 1990
Starring: Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, David Carradine, Bill Duke, Stephen Tobolowsky

Description: An old flame (Goldie Hawn) discovers her ex-boyfriend (Mel Gibson) from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.

Review: Mel Gibson plays Rick Jarmin, part of a witness protection program. He has been living a nomad life, to stay away from the bad guys he ones testified against. He bumps into Marianne Graves, who he was ones engaged to. Rick staged a plane accident and faked his death, so that Marianne wouldn’t be in danger. But those same crooks are after Rick ones again and Marianne is here to see it all.
The film is enjoyable, at least the first part is. But “Bird on a Wire” gets repetitive and becomes less credible towards the end. Goldie Hawn and Mel Gibson are not the problem, they have chemistry and a very interesting dynamic. Their constant bickering leads to sheer amusement. Let’s be honest, this is the Gibson we loved most.
Fun, yes. High quality, no.

Rating: 2, 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 49: The Expendables 3

Director: Patrick Hughes

Genre: Action/ Adventure

Runtime: 126 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mel Gibson, Wesley Snipes, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture, Terry Crews, Kelsey Grammer, Antonio Banderas, Glen Powell, Victor Ortiz, Ronda Rousey, Kellan Lutz, Jet Li 

Description: Barney (Sylvester Stallone) augments his team with new blood for a personal battle: to take down Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), the Expendables co-founder and notorious arms trader who is hell bent on wiping out Barney and every single one of his associates.

Review: It’s again time for an adventure with some of our favorite action stars: “The Expendables 3”. As the driving engine behind the film series, Sylvester Stallone managed to find some new actors. Wesley Snipes, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford are added to the cast. Alongside the ‘oldies’, we also get some new young stars. Kellan Lutz is probably the only one that will ring a bell. Bruce Willis isn’t part of it anymore.

The movie starts with a lot of action. Barney and his team have to save an ex-Expendable, named Doctor Death. During their next mission, Barney finds out that Stonebanks, an Expendable gone bad, is still alive. All he wants is to go up against him one more time, especially after severely injuring Caesar. Barney doesn’t want his other friends to get hurt, so he decides to set up a new team. But it’s not that easy to exchange experience.

Just like how The Rolling Stones still keep coming back and fill concert halls, “The Expendables 3” will attract audience. The storyline is never the strong point, although there is a more emotional side to it this time.

Introducing Wesley Snipes and Antonio Banderas to the franchise is a smart move. Their loud characters often manage to make you laugh. The search for the new generation, led by Kelsey Grammer, is more fun than the new group itself. All of them are easily replaceable. Mel Gibson is very convincing as the villain.

The action is again of a high level. If you liked the previous movies in this series, “The Expedables 3” gives you again what you expect. The formula hasn’t stopped working yet and another sequel isn’t unthinkable.

Rating: 3/ 5

Marry, Kiss, Cliff - Round 6

Round 6: Logan/ Wolverine (“X-Men”), William Wallace (“Braveheart”) and Tony Montana (“Scarface”)

Marry: William Wallace fights for his country, family and friends. That’s a man you should hold on to. We would have to discuss the use of blue facial paint though…

Kiss: I guess you would have wild dates with Wolverine. I don’t mind a smooch from this bearded man. I love men with beards

Cliff: A guy who’s in drugs isn’t the best catch. I will push Tony Montana off a cliff. Before he shows me his little friend off course.